About Us

Bethany Christian Fellowship was founded in the summer of 1991. At the time, Professor Peng-Cheng Wen began his teaching career after accepting a position at Fresno Pacific University. He also started inviting students to his home for Bible study on Saturday evenings. The Bible study group continued for five years. During that time, some came and went—some accepted the Lord, some were baptized at local churches, and others were baptized in the backyard swimming pool.

The Bible study group continued to grow, especially after Professor Wen became a member of Bethany M.B. Church in August 1994. For several consecutive years, the Bible study meetings at Professor Wen’s home gradually transitioned to gatherings at Bethany Church. Our first “home” there was the storage room next to the church garage—the same room used by the SOD SQUAD (a group of elderly church members who voluntarily helped maintain the church garden every week). In addition to the Saturday night Bible studies, we also began a Chinese Sunday school class.

The fellowship continued to grow. Our group included an average of six families as well as students from Fresno Pacific University and Fresno State. By this time, several members of the Bible study group had already been baptized at the church. In October 2003, Professor Peng-Cheng Wen was officially ordained by the Mennonite mother church to become the pastor of our church. Our first official Chinese worship service was held on Christmas Day in 2003. We currently meet on Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM on the second floor of the church. About forty brothers and sisters attend our Sunday services each week. In addition, we have two Bible study groups that meet simultaneously every Friday night at 8 PM, with around 30 people attending these gatherings.

In recent years, more people among us have been baptized. Our goal is not only to share the gospel with non-believers but also to build up a group of faithful soldiers of Christ, committed to fulfilling the Great Commission entrusted to us by the Lord.